Simon Benjamin
2 HN recommenders · recommended in 3 months, 2020–2023
1:06:21 · 38K views · Jun 4, 2015
A 2015 talk by David Deutsch with slides and audio about constructor theory and how physics, in particular the many-worlds interpretation, can be framed without probability.
Cited in threads on probability and quantum theory as a strong argument that probabilities can be eliminated from physics.
3 comments from Hacker News
Any theory that is explainable and hard to vary does not need probability. Can you explain how probability is used in statistical mechanics in a way to contradict what I am saying? P.S. Thanks for being a sport and talk about this in a truly respectful way. If you want to understand where I am coming from, I can really recommend David Deutsch talk about probability here this video It was a big awakening for me once I realized not only where probability theory came from (not physics) and how engrained it is in our thinking.
David Deutsch’s “Physics Without Probability” covers the history of probability, it’s legitimate and misconceived uses and concludes that according to MWI there is no such thing in reality - it’s basically that probabilities correspond to how measures of the multiverse proportion themselves as differentiation occurs. I watched it a few years ago so may be misremembering bits but I think that is the gist… Worth a watch especially if you balk at this idea just to to see a strong counter argument. this video Edit: link
IMHO, a better title would be " Probabilistic Theories Of Everything" Contrast with the recent work from David Deutsch, which eliminates all probabilities from physics. Intro to Constructor Theory: this video